MyNavStyle

Tuesday, 17 May 2016

My friend and I were arguing. "I'll never find parking there," I said exasperatedly.“What kind of an excuse is that to not come home!” she was angry and hurt. “Why can’t you walk?” She wasn’t exactly next-door, but she was not very far from where I lived either. I never walked to her house. Driving is less a necessity and more a habit for me."But it'll take so long," I whined.

"I have all the time. Let's meet in an hour." End of discussion.

That's how I set out half-heartedly and discovered five more benefits of walking:

I learnt to enjoy my own company: Walking helped me focus. On what's happening around me and inside me. "That store looks so small, every time I drive by," I thought. It was really quite large. "I didn't know that tree had such pretty flowers!" I'd driven by the tree practically a thousand times, lost in my own world. Now, I was completely in the present as I engaged with my senses and my surroundings.

I automatically slowed down: I looked at people. I observed the traffic. I noticed an old man covering his head from the merciless sun and waiting to cross the street as vehicles rushed past him. I knew immediately I'm one of those drivers and I was acutely embarrassed.

I discovered more about my area: I only knew one route to my friend's house. When I agreed to walk, my friend told me how I could cut the distance in half and avoid the traffic. After 23 years of living in this locality, I discovered a new street. And it had a beautiful park as well! Where had I been?

I learnt I'm more approachable when I walk: I ran into a lady who I've seen often on my street as I'm rushing out of home. We immediately recognized each other though we'd never spoken till now. She looked surprised (to discover that I had legs that worked, perhaps!) and offered me a tentative smile. We struck up a conversation and inevitably discovered that we had common connections. She would never have flagged me down when I was driving to say ‘hello' and I wouldn't have stopped to do it either.

I actually reached faster: This one really surprised me. It took me less time to walk to my friend's house than to drive!

And of course, the best benefit: I didn't have to worry about parking.

GetActivehas been working with more than 100,000 users in 50+ corporates. We encourage walking, in small measures all through the day. And help build a lifelong habit of staying active & healthy.Do you want to explore more benefits on walking and share with us? Please write us at care@getactive.in.